New collection on crossing Donner Summit

Bill Oudegeest has released “Extraordinary Crossings: Stories of Crossing Donner Summit,” a collection of stories, pictures, quotes and tales of the human spirit of those taking on the daunting crossing of the Summit.

“The Sierra is a great barrier and there are only a few passes through the great barrier to connect California with the rest of the country,” reads the book’s introduction. “One of those passes is Donner Pass, the area colloquially known as Donner Summit. Through that pass have funneled many stories – stories of heroism, adventure, excitement, pathos, courage, and tenacity. Those stories encompass the very best of the human spirit.”